Are Apple Seeds Poisonous? Are Apple Seeds Poisonous? Are Apple Seeds Poisonous? Cyanide in Apple Seeds Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which decomposes into toxic benzaldehyde and prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide. However, humans are able to detoxify small amounts of these chemicals. Image Source/Getty Images Updated October 24, 2016. Question: Do Apple Seeds Contain Poison? Apples, along with cherries, peaches and almonds, are members of the rose family. The seeds of apples and these other fruits contain natural chemicals that are toxic to some animals. Are they poisonous to humans? Here's a look at the toxicity of apple seeds. Toxicity of Apple Seeds Apple seeds do contain a small amount of cyanide , which is a lethal poison, but you are protected from the toxin by the hard seed coating. If you eat whole apple seeds, they pass through your digestive system relatively untouched. If you chew the seeds thoroughly, you will be exposed to the chemicals inside the seeds, but the dose of toxins in an apple is small enough that your body can easily detoxify it. How Many Apple Seeds Does It Take to Kill You?

Cyanide is deadly at a dose of about 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight. On average, an apple seed contains 0.49 mg of cyanogenic compounds. The number of seeds per apple varies, but an apple with 8 seeds therefore contains about 3.92 milligrams of cyanide. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge A person weighing 70 kilograms would needs to eat 143 seeds to reach the lethal dose, or about 18 whole apples. Reference: Juniper BE, Mabberley DJ (2006). The Story of the Apple. Timber Press. p. 20. ISBN 0881927848. Apple Seed Toxicity | LIVESTRONG.COM Apple Seed Toxicity Last Updated: Feb 01, 2014 Penny Kendall Penny Kendall is a writer with more than 25 years of experience writing in health care and public policy. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Texas and a Diploma in nursing from Brackenridge Hospital School of Nursing. Her experience includes advocacy for persons with disabilities.

Whole and halved apple with seeds Photo Credit whitetag/iStock/Getty Images "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." True enough. However, apple seeds contain a substance that can convert into poisonous hydrogen cyanide in the intestine. But there is no need to panic. The chance of consuming enough apple seeds to produce a toxic effect is slight, and proper handling can reduce the risks further. Fruit Seed Poisons Peaches, plums and apples all have pits or seeds that contain toxins. Photo Credit fruit bowl with wine glass image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com Apples are only one of a number of fruits that contain amygdalin in their seeds. The biggest offenders are apricot and peach pits, followed plums, apple seeds, almond and quince, in descending order of amygdalin content. The amount of amygdaline contained in apple seeds is tiny, and the seed must be chewed up to release the substance. Amygdalin Cassava has a high cyanogen content.

Photo Credit Cassava field, Thailand image by SURABKY from Fotolia.com Amygdalin is a glycoside toxin that combines with a gastrointestinal enzyme to produce hydrogen cyanide, the same poison that was called Cylon B and used for mass executions in concentration camps during World War II. Very often, the fruit or seed with amygdalin, and other precursors to cyanide called cyanogens, can be processed to remove the toxic substance. Cassava root has a very high cyanogen content and is used for tapioca and other food stuffs. Proper processing of cassava and thorough cooking renders the cyanogen harmless. The toxins in almonds also are processed in such a way to either remove the toxin or convert it into a harmless substance. How Cyanide Acts Hydrogen cyanide, the form of toxin produced by amygdalin conversion in the intestine, acts by robbing the blood cells of the ability to carry oxygen. While the body can process and eliminate small amounts of hydrogen cyanide, larger amounts can be deadly. There is no antidote. Symptoms of Poisoning Persons who experience apple seed poisoning may have trembling, spasms, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, rapid heart rate, weakness and headache.

Large amounts of cyanide can cause difficulty breathing, coma, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, convulsions, lung damage or death. Survivors of serious poisoning can show evidence of heart and brain damage. The Good News Handling apple seeds properly will prevent toxicity. Photo Credit caution tape image by david brown from Fotolia.com Swallowing a few apple seeds whole will not cause poisoning. The hard seed hulls keep the poison contained within the seed and it can pass through the digestive system whole. The problem comes from chewing up the seed. Although a large quantity of seed would would have to be ground or chewed up and consumed, amygdalin poisoning is still possible. Remove the seeds before eating and do not give the pips to children, who may have a lower tolerance to amygdalin. Do not grind the seeds when processing the fruit for juice, applesauce, or preserves. Following these simple precautions will ensure your safety when eating apples.

Related Searches THE LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate Nutrition, Workouts & Tips GOAL Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week GENDER Cyanide, Arsenic, and Other Toxins in Fruit: Apple Seeds, Peach Pits, Cherry Pits, etc.: Facts, Mythes and Old Wive's Tales. Find Out ther Truth! Search Custom Search Cyanide, Arsenic, and Other Toxins in Fruit: Apple Seeds, Peach Pits, Cherry Pits, etc.: Facts, Mythes and Old Wive's Tales. Find Out ther Truth! Related topics Environmental information This month's notes: January 2017: Apples are still available, but already picked. In some areas, late season crops, are still available (if there hasn't been a frost) - like persimmons, pears, winter squash, kiwis, even figs and raspberries. See your state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops.

But now it is time to tag your Christmas tree at a local Christmas tree farm (and enjoy a bonfire, smore, hot chocolate and free hayrides, and often Santa visits! And next Spring, you'll want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt ! And we have home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions . You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! Also make your own ice cream - see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals . Have fun, eat healthier and better tasting, and save money by picking your own locally grown fruit and vegetables, and then using our easy directions Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information!! Subscribe to our: Email alerts ; Follow us on Twitter Add this page to your favorites! - Email this page to a friend, or to yourself With the popularity of juicers and food grinders, some people seem to think that grinding up entire fruit (skin, seeds, pits, stems and all) is somehow healthier than tradition methods.

This is not always the case. Some parts of some fruit are not only unpleasant to eat, they can even be dangerous. Here are the facts about toxic parts of fruit. Cyanide in Apple Seeds, Cherry Pits, Peach Pits and Apricot Pits Apple and crabapple seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanide and sugar compound that degrades into hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when metabolized. Cyanide itself is a poison that kills by denying blood the ability to carry oxygen and thereby causes its victims to die. It's not an urban legend that apple seeds contain cyanide; even Snopes.com has an article about it . Apple seeds also have a tough protective coating seals the amygdalin inside, unless the seeds are crushed, chewed or otherwise ground up. Whole apple seeds have hard, durable shells that allow them to pass intact through the digestive systems of people and animals.

The National Institute of Health says: "The edible portions of dietary plant species commonly used in the United States contain relatively low levels of cyanogen glycosides, although some pits and seeds of common fruits, apple, apricot, peach, contain significantly higher concentrations." But don't worry: It would take a bushel's worth of ground up apple's seeds (about 1 cup of seeds) to create enough cyanide to poison someone. Grinding apples and pressing them for apple juice or apple cider wouldn't release enough cyanide to be a problem. Neither does cooking apples and straining them to make a sauce. Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D. Assistant Director PG Research Foundation in Darien, Illinois says "About the only way you can actually ruin into a problem with the toxicity of apple seeds is if you save the seeds from about a bushel of apples and eat them all at once." Still, I don't think I would intentionally group up the seeds and include them in foods. Cherry, peach, and apricot pits, on the other hand, also contain amygdalin, a form of cyanide. Peach and apricot have it in potentially harmful amounts. Of course, few people intentionally swallow or chew them.

This NY Times article explains more . Other references: HUMAN FOODSTUFFS BAD FOR CATS HUMAN FOODSTUFFS BAD FOR CATS Copyright 2008, Sarah Hartwell Cats are obligate carnivores. Their teeth and gut have evolved for eating a diet exclusively of meat. In the wild, the only vegetable matter they would normally eat is in the gut of prey or in the form of grass chewed for medicinal purposes. Because any harmful substances in plants is normally broken down in the liver of their prey animals, cats have not needed to evolve good liver function. This makes them susceptible to poisoning from foods that other species can eat without ill-effect. Domestic cats are often more adventurous in their tastes and will often sample vegetables and fruit. There is also a long, but erroneous, tradition of giving cats milk. Cats have not evolved to eat these things. With the exceptions of fruit and vegetables listed below, a little of these does not harm and can address constipation or obesity by adding bulk to the cat's diet. Other food enjoyed by owners should not be given to cats at all. The stimulants in tea, coffee and chocolate that make them so agreeable to us makes them toxic to cats.

The important thing is to know whether your cat has eaten enough to suffer ill-effects. Some foods are toxic if only a small amount is eaten while others won't cause illness unless eaten repeatedly or in a large amount. Compared to humans and dogs, cats have poor liver function. In evolutionary terms, they don't need good liver function as they rely on their prey to have broken down any harmful substances found in vegetable matter. The following common human foods are bad for cats. Some foods are harmful in excess and should only be given in moderation or as treats. Many of the lists of harmful foods online are combined dog and cat lists. Cats are not scavengers to the same extent as dogs and are less likely to eat many of the foodstuffs listed as harmful. I found that some of the data in other lists comes from cattle and laboratory rats - two creatures with very different digestive systems to cats - that were deliberately fed excessive amounts of a foodstuff. Where applicable I have included the information, but with notes questioning its usefulness related to cats. Alcohol Compared to humans, cats have poor liver function and are less able to detoxify substances. Cats have become tipsy on red wine sauce from meal leftovers.

While a single occasion might not cause long term ill-effects, large amounts or repeated amounts of alcohol will cause liver damage. As well as intoxication and gastrointestinal irritation; alcohol poisoning will result in breathing difficulties, coma and death. Bach Flower Remedies are popular with many cat owners, but the main ingredient of these is alcohol used as a solvent (brandy according to the ingredients list). If used, they should be given very sparingly and infrequently. There are now alcohol-free versions of the remedies that are safer for pets. Avocado All parts of the avocado contain a toxin known as persin. It causes gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, respiratory distress, congestion, fluid accumulation around the tissues of the heart and even death. Cats may be attracted to the oily texture, but should not be fed avocado pieces (in salads) or avocado dips. Broccoli Broccoli toxicity was noted in cattle fed excessive amounts of it. Where the amount of broccoli in the diet exceeded 10% it caused gastrointestinal upsets. Where it exceeded 25% it was fatal. Since no-one is likely to feed a cat this amount of broccoli in the diet there are no reports of broccoli toxicity in cats.

Their very different digestive system means they wouldn't digest broccoli as thoroughly as a cow and might not absorb the isothiocyanate toxin. Fed in small amounts, broccoli contains beneficial bioflavinoids. Cats are not cattle and, being carnivores not herbivores, are not likely to consume sufficient broccoli to cause illness. Chocolate, Cocoa Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance very toxic to cats. Theobromine is a cardiac stimulant (makes the heart beat faster and irregularly) and a diuretic (makes the animal pee more). Once in the bloodstream, it causes hyperactivity and thirst. After several hours it may cause vomiting and diarrhoea. It can lead to a fatal heart attack within 24 hours of eating the chocolate. Weight for weight, cocoa powder, cooking chocolate and high cocoa brands of chocolate (gourmet brands) are most dangerous as these are concentrates and contain far more theobromine. Ordinary bittersweet chocolate and dark/plain chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous (but still not safe to give to cats). Don't be tempted to share chocolate cake or confectionery with your pet.

There is no reason to give your cat chocolate - it doesn't need it! Although there are special chocolate-style treats, these are made to be attractive to owners who like to treat their pets as children. They are not healthy, have no place in the normal feline diet and cats don't need them. In my personal experience, I have seen possible neurological effects in a cat that ate a small piece of chocolate confectionery. Shortly after eating the chocolate, the cat showed signs of disorientation and walked backwards. Luckily the effect was temporary. Coffee and Tea Coffee grounds, coffee beans and tea all contain caffeine, a stimulant. Some cats are attracted to milky tea and coffee. Cats are not children - there is no reason to give them tea or coffee to drink. It's not cute and it's not safe. I have seen a cat become hyperactive after licking espresso from a cup. Grapes and Raisins The toxicity of grapes and raisins to cats isn't known, but they are known to be toxic to dogs. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (A USAnian body) advises not giving grapes or raisins to cats or dogs in any amount.

That means not sharing your breakfast muesli or fruit cake, however much your cat is begging. Hops (Spent) There is a lot of confusion over hop toxicity. In 1995, the National Animal Poison Control Centre in Illinois recorded 8 cases of fatal hop toxicity in dogs that consumed spent hops from home-brew kits. The result was an uncontrollable rise in body temperature. For many years, cats at an cat shelter near me have been able to nibble fresh green hops on a vine growing up the side of a fence with no ill-effects. While hop residue from beer-making can cause raised temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and even death (at least in dogs), there's no evidence that fresh or dried hops are harmful. Liver Large amounts of liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity. This affects muscles and bones and can cause abnormal bone growth, particularly noticeable on the spine and neck region. Milk Milk has adverse effects on most cats. Milk is a baby-food and is not a natural food for adult cats. Cow's milk is suitable for cows (and many humans), but contains lactose which adult cats cannot digest. This results in stomach upsets, diarrhoea and intestinal discomfort.

Many cats appear to like milk and there is a longstanding tradition of giving milk to cats. The higher the fat content in the milk, the less lactose it contains so a small treat of cream may be safe for some cats. Some cats can tolerate evaporated milk as the high temperatures have changed the composition. Alternatively, use a lactose-free milk such as Lactolite (made for humans), Whiskas or Felix (made for cats). Evaporated milk may also be tolerated. Goats milk and sheep milk are also alternatives. Cats that have a balanced diet and water available really don't need milk and it's best not to get into the habit of giving them milk. Nuts Many nuts are not good for cats and the high phosphorus content may cause problems. Walnuts are reported to be toxic to pets. Raw and roasted macadamia nuts are harmful to pets. There is no data for cats, but there are toxicity cases in dogs. Dogs that ate between 6 and 40 macadamia kernels or macadamia nut butter developed temporary muscle tremors and hindlimb weakness/paralysis. Some had swollen and painful limbs. They became unable to get up and were visibly distressed.

Although the effects were temporary, they were painful and distressing. With their less effective livers, cats are also at risk from macadamia nuts and related products. While cats may be attracted to the oily texture of some nuts, it is wisest not to allow them to eat nuts; especially macadamia nuts. Onions, Shallots, Spring Onions, Garlic etc Onions contain disulphides (or thiosulphate) that destroy red blood cells in the cat, causing a form of anaemia called Heinz body anaemia (a haemolytic or red-cell-bursting anaemia). All forms of onion are toxic: raw, dried, powdered or cooked. Ready meals, takeaways and baby foods containing onion or onion powder must not be fed to pets as treats. Baby food such as "beef dinner" or "lamb dinner" is sometimes fed to cats as a tonic, but the onion powder used to add flavour will do more harm than good. Onion powder may be used as a flavouring in instant gravy. Garlic contains a similar substance in a lesser amount and much larger quantities would be needed to cause illness.

In some continental countries owners have added a little garlic to a pet's meals on the basis that garlic is good for humans so it must be good for pets as well. With their very different liver function, foods harmless to humans can be deadly to cats. Onion toxicity results in haemolytic anaemia, where the red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. Symptoms occur a few days after eating onion. The first symptoms are generally gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea, loss of appetite and lethargy (because the oxygen-carrying red blood cells are damaged). The red pigment from the burst blood cells is excreted in the urine and it becomes breathless as there are fewer cells to transport oxygen around the body. Onion poisoning can result after a single meal containing a large amount of onion relative to body size or repeated meals containing smaller amounts of onion. Chives are sometimes used as a flavouring in commercial cat foods. Although potentially toxic to cats (in large quantities), chive leaves are eaten rather than the bulbs. Some cats are attracted to chives and will eat them from the herb garden.

However, I would prefer that the Co-Op did not produce a chicken and chives variety as it gives a mixed message to owners. For safety, the onion family is best avoided altogether. Pips and Kernels: Pear/Apple Pips, Apricot/Plum/Peach/Nectarine Kernels Pear pips, apple pips and the kernels of drupes (plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and related fruits) all contain cyanogenic glycosides that can result in cyanide poisoning. Cyanogenic glycosides interfere with the ability of the blood to release oxygen into the tissues, resulting in suffocation even though there is oxygen in the bloodstream. Apricot kernels are currently a trendy food for humans, but are dangerous to humans in large amounts (most health shops recommend eating no more than 6 kernels per day). They are even more dangerous to cats due to their liver function and smaller bodyweight. There is no truth in the claim they prevent or cure cancer in humans or any other creatures. The same applies to other drupes.

Raw Eggs Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin and excessive amounts of raw egg white could cause a biotin (B vitamin) deficiency resulting in skin and hair problems. This data came from laboratory rats that were fed abnormally large amounts of raw egg white proportional to their bodyweight. It is unlikely cats would consume dangerous quantities of avidin unless you fed them raw eggs at every meal. In practice, wild cats will include eggs in their diet. As long as the cat has a varied diet and sources of biotin and is not fed excessive amounts, an occasional raw egg will do no harm. Raw egg yolk has long been considered a tonic. The quality of eggs is variable and eggs may be a potential salmonella risk. If you're worried about feeding occasional eggs, it can be lightly scrambled. I have fed whisked raw egg (sometimes whisked with goat's milk) as a treat two or three times a month with no ill-effect. Raw Fish Feeding raw fish regularly can result in thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency due to the enzyme thiaminase in the fish. It results in loss of appetite, seizures and (in severe cases) death.

Although an occasional treat of raw fish is generally not harmful, over-consumption will cause problems. Cooking the fish will destroy the enzyme. Raw salmon in parts of North America may carry flukes and Neorickettsia helminthoeca. This can cause salmon poisoning disease in pets. It has been reported in dogs rather than cats, but results in lethary, high temperature, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea and may mimic infectious enteritis. The mortality rate is around 90% if untreated. It is preventable by cooking the salmon. Some fish also contains environmental pollutants e.g. PCBs or mercury; these are not removed by cooking, but their levels may be higher in raw fish that have not been gutted (the cat may eat the fish organs as well as the flesh). Mercury poisoning has been reported in cats in a coastal region of Japan where fish was a main ingredient of the diet. If fed in excess, oily fish such as tuna can lead to steatitis (Yellow Fat Disease, pansteatitis). Many feral cats near fishing ports supplement their diets by scavenging raw fish. As long as the raw fish was not eaten in excess and contained no harmful contaminants the cats did not appear to suffer ill-effects.

Ready Meals, Prepared Foods Always read the ingredient list if you do give a treat of human food or leftovers. As well as the food itself, many of the preservatives used in human foods are toxic to cats. Other foods, though not poisonous, are hard for cats to digest and can cause stomach and bowel upsets which are uncomfortable for the cat and messy for the owner. Some will cause the diet to become unbalanced. As with all treats, they should only be given in small amounts (once the ingredients have been determined cat-safe). Too much liver will cause vitamin toxicity and abnormal bone growth (these can be lethal). Too much canned tuna can cause a painful inflammation of the fatty tissue. Rhubarb Rhubarb leaves contain oxalates. Eating rhubarb leaves leads to oxalic acid poisoning which can cause kidney failure. The cooked rhubarb stem is safe to eat, but is very high fibre (that's why humans eat it for the laxative effect) and may cause indigestion, intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. In practice, cats are unlikely to eat rhubarb leaves due to the taste. Some cats will chew on leaves without swallowing them.

Spoiled Food, Mould and Bacteria Spoiled foods harbour harmful bacteria and their breakdown products. Many of these can cause illness in humans (e.g. Clostridium perfringens, E coli, Bacillus cereus to name just a few). Moulds on food can also contain toxins.Unless starving, cats will generally avoid stale or spoiled foods. When they do eat spoiled or stale food, their first line of defence is to vomit it back up again. If the food smells "off" to you, don't even think of giving it to your cat. Tomatoes and Potatoes Tomatoes are members of the Solanaceae family of plants and are related to Deadly Nightshade. They contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called glycoalkaloid solanine that can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms. Generally cats aren't attracted to tomatoes, but there have been reports of a single cherry tomato causing a near-fatal reaction. Green tomatoes and the leaves and stems are all toxic. The toxin is destroyed by cooking so the tomato juice in cans of sardines, pilchards and other fish is safe to eat. Some cats also like the juice from cans of baked beans, but these may contain harmful preservatives.

As with all canned treats - read the label. Like tomatoes, potatoes are members of the Solanaceae family of plants and are related to Deadly Nightshade. They contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called glycoalkaloid solanine that can cause violent lower gastrointestinal symptoms. Uncooked or green potatoes and raw potato peelings are all toxic. Once cooked, the alkaloid is destroyed making the potato safe. Cooked mashed potato can be safely mixed into canned food as a bulking agent for overweight cats. It goes without saying that green potatoes should be discarded. Tuna If fed in excess, tuna can lead to steatitis (Yellow Fat Disease, pansteatitis). This painful inflammatory condition results from a diet high in unsaturated fatty acids & deficient in Vitamin E; over-consumption of oily fish is the main cause in cats. Tuna seems addictive to cats, but should be limited to special treats only. Tuna contains little vitamin E and the excessive unsaturated fatty acids further deplete vitamin E in the body. Cats with steatitis develop flaky skin and a greasy, dull coat. They show signs of severe pain when touched and are reluctant to move. They also lose their appetites and develop fever.

If untreated, it results in death. Yeast Dough There is an urban legend that yeast-based bread dough will expand so fast in the warmth of the stomach that it rises into the throat and causes suffocation. Unless a huge amount is eaten (more of a problem in indiscriminate eaters such as dogs than in fastidious eaters such as cats), the stomach acids prevent this. Yeast dough can cause bloating, indigestion and discomfort, but is unlikely to expand so much it will rupture the stomach (there is only one case on record, this in a dog). The TV show Mythbusters showed just how much a stomach can expand before it ruptures - you or your cat will vomit from discomfort before the stomach gets close to rupturing! Even so, yeast dough is not a suitable foodstuff for a cat. OTHER HARMFUL THINGS Medication Keep human medication well away from cats. Common drugs such as aspirin and paracetamol are poisonous to cats. Warfarin and other commonly used blood thinners are dangerous; even if the dosage itself is non-fatal, it can prevent blood clotting if the cat scratches itself. The sugar coating on tablets can be attractive to some cats.

Smokers' Items/Nicotine Although not a foodstuff, it should go without saying that snuff, tobacco, cigarettes and cigars should also be kept well away from cats. The same applies to smoking substitutes such as nicotine patches. PORK It is often claimed pork (and ham, bacon etc) shouldn't be given to cats. In fact pork products are used in pet-foods - sometimes this appears on the label ("Chicken and Ham", "Chicken and Bacon", "... and Pork") and other times it is hidden as part of the meat byproducts and derivatives. The idea of pork being unhealthy (as opposed to unclean) relates to tapeworm that may be carried by pigs. Historically, undercooked pork was a source of infection to humans. As with all meats, the pork should be cooked before feeding it to your cat. Bacon is often too salty to safely feed to a cat. Cooked pork or ham is safe to feed as a treat. If you allow your cat to eat pieces of sausage, make sure it doesn't contain onion powder or leeks as these are toxic to cats. Pig meat products can be found in commercially prepared pet foods.

Ham and pork passed fit for human consumption and properly cooked is safe for cats to eat. Raw pork is best avoided. HOW TO RID CANCER FROM YOUR BODY Contact US So how does B17 kill cancer?....... Here we go.... Firstly we need to understand that our bodies use several enzymes to perform many tasks. Our body has one particular enzyme called Rhodanese which is found in large quantities throughout the body but is not present where ever there are cancer cells. Yet, where ever you find cancer in the body, you find another enzyme called Beta-Glucosidase. So, we have the enzyme Rhodanese found everywhere in the body except at the cancer cells, and we have the enzyme Beta-Glucosidase found in very large quantities only at the cancer cell but not found anywhere else in the body. If there is no cancer in the body there is no enzyme Beta-Glucosidase. Now the following is what scares most people. You see, Vitamin B17 is made up of 2 parts glucose, 1 part Hydrogen Cyanide and 1 part Benzaldehyde(analgesic/painkiller).

So its very important you understand the following: When B17 is introduced to the body, it is broken down by the enzyme Rhodanese. The Rhodanese breaks the Hydrogen Cyanide and Benzaldehyde down into 2 by-products, Thiocyanate and Benzoic acid which are beneficial in nourishing healthy cells and forms the metabolic pool production for vitamin B12. Any excess of these by-products is expelled in normal fashion from the body via urine. Vitamin B17 passes through your body and does not last longer than 80 minutes inside your body as a result of the Rhodanese breaking it down. (Hydrogen Cyanide has been proven to be chemically inert and non toxic when taken as food or refined pharmaceutical such as laetrile. Sugar has be shown to be 20 times more toxic than B17 - see good & bad cyanide). HERE IS THE GOOD PART - When the B17 comes into contact with cancer cells, there is no Rhodanese to break it down and neutrelise it but instead, only the enzyme Beta-Gucosidase is present in very large quantities.

When B17 and Beta-Glucosidase come into contact with each other, a chemical reaction occurs and the Hydrogen Cyanide and Benzaldehyde combine synergistically to produce a poison which destroys and kills the cancer cells. This whole process is known as selective toxicity. Only the cancer cells are specifically targeted and destroyed. Good & Bad Cyanide? This section addresses everything you wanted to know about the laetrile-cyanide connection. We all know that cyanide is bad for you, yet here we are jumping up and down saying its good for you because it kills cancer. Lets look at the real story. This section assumes you read the previous section How does B17 kill Cancer. Hydrogen Cyanide must be FORMED!! There is no free Hydrogen Cyanide in laetrile floating around freely in our body waiting to harm us when we eat apricot seeds or take laetrile. The enzyme Beta-Glucosidase, and only that enzyme is capable of manufacturing and forming the Hydrogen Cyanide from Laetrile.. If there are no cancer cells in the body, there is no beta-glucosidase.

If there is no beta-glucosidase, no hydrogen cyanide will be formed from laetrile. Even if there were some other way to manufacture cyanide from laetrile in the body, the amount would be so minute it would have little, if any toxic effect. (see How does B17 kill Cancer?) Laetrile does on the other hand contain the cyanide radical (CN-). So does Vitamin B12 , Cassava and strawberries and a host of other foods we consume. You never heard of anyone getting cyanide poison from vitamin B12 or from eating strawberries because it just does not happen. Lets also look at table salt which is made up of sodium Chloride (NaCl) and is very common in most households. Yet, did you know pure sodium (Na+) is one of the most toxic substances known to man? Yet in their form locked together they are not toxic. Any good toxicologist will tell you sugar is 20 times more toxic than laetrile and salt is also much more toxic. Foods Containing B17 (Nitrilosides) Vitamin B17 appears in abundance in untamed nature.

Because B17 is bitter to the taste, in man's attempt to improve tastes and flavors for his own pleasure, he has eliminated bitter substances like B17 by selection and cross-breeding. It can be stated as a general rule that many of the foods that have been domesticated still contain the vitamin B17 in that part not eaten by modem man, such as the seeds in apricots. Listed below is an evaluation of some of the more common foods. Keep in mind that these are averages only and that specimens vary widely depending on variety, locale, soil, and climate. SOURCE: The Little Cyanide Cookbook by June de Spain - (former) FDA Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. Fruits High - above 500 mgs. nitriloside per 100 grams food Medium - above 100 mgs. per 100 grams food Low - below 100 mgs. per 100 grams food Vitamin B-17 is one of the main sources of food in cultures such as the Eskimos, the Hunzas, the Abkasians and many more. Did you know that within these tribes there has never been a reported case of cancer? According to Dr.

Krebs, we need a minimum of 100 mg of vitamin B-17 (the equivalent of about seven apricots seeds) too nearly guarantee a cancer free life. Foods that contain vitamin B-17 are as follows: KERNELS OR SEEDS OF FRUIT: The highest concentration of vitamin B-17 to be found in nature, aside from bitter almonds. Apple, apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach, pear, plum, prune. BEANS: broad (Vicia faba), burma, chickpeas, lentils (sprouted), lima, mung (sprouted), Rangoon, scarlet runner. NUTS: Bitter almond, macadamia, cashew. BERRIES: Almost all wild berries. Blackberry, chokeberry, Christmas berry, cranberry, elderberry, raspberry, strawberry. SEEDS: Chia, flax, sesame. Top 10 Poisonous Foods We Love To Eat - Listverse Top 10 Poisonous Foods We Love To Eat Jamie Frater January 6, 2009 Everyday we chow down on food produced from plants that carry deadly poisons.

Most of the time we don’t need to be concerned with this as the mass production of fruit and vegetables ensures that we are usually safe, but from time to time people accidentally kill themselves by unwittingly eating the wrong part of a plant. In order to ensure that this never happens to you, I have put together a list of the most commonly seen poisons that we come in to contact with in our kitchens. 10 Mushrooms We have all heard of toadstools – and know that they are poisonous, but what many people don’t know is that a toadstool is actually a mushroom, not a separate type of plant. Toadstool is slang for “poisonous mushroom”. While there are some useful signs that a mushroom is poisonous, they are not consistent and all mushrooms of unknown origin should be considered dangerous to eat. Some of the things you can look for to try to determine whether a mushroom is poisonous are: it should have a flat cap with no bumps, it should have pink or black gills (poisonous mushrooms often have white gills), and the gills should stay attached to the cap (not the stalk) if you pull it off.

But remember, while this is generally true of many types of mushroom, it is not always true. Not all mushrooms are dangerous; some are actually delicious. Grow your own with a Back To The Roots Mushroom Kit at Amazon.com! 9 Pufferfish A few days ago we had a list of embarrassing deaths, one of which included death by eating the liver of a fugu (pufferfish). The fugu is so poisonous that in Japan, fugu chefs are trained specially for the job and are tested before being a given certificates of practice. The training takes two or three years. In order to pass, the chef must answer a written test then give a demonstration of his cutting abilities. The final part of the test involves the chef eating the pieces of fugu that he has cut. Only 30% of apprentices pass the test – which is not to say that the rest die by eating their fugu – they can fail in earlier parts of the test. Only the flesh of the fugu is consumed as it is less likely to have high amounts of poison (which causes a slight tingling sensation in the mouth). Fugu is the only food officially illegal for the Emperor of Japan to eat – for his safety.

Rather than including a photograph of a pufferfish, I have used a youtube clip showing a chef preparing the fugu – it is quite extraordinary. 8 Elderberry Elderberry trees are very attractive and quite large. They are covered with thousands of tiny flowers which have a delicate scent. The flowers are used mainly for making elderflower liqueur and soda. Sometimes the flowers are eaten after being battered and deep fried. But beneath the pretty surface lurks danger! The roots and some other parts of the elderberry tree are highly poisonous and will cause severe stomach problems. So next time you decide to pick some elderberry flowers for eating, be sure to eat just the flowers. 7 Castor Oil Castor oil, the bane of many of our childhoods, is regularly added to candies, chocolate, and other foods. Furthermore, many people still consume a small amount daily or force it on their unwilling children. Fortunately the castor oil we buy is carefully prepared, because the castor bean is so deadly, that it takes just one bean to kill a human, and four to kill a horse. The poison is ricin, which is so toxic that workers who collect the seeds have strict safety guidelines to prevent accidental death.

Despite this, many people working in the fields gathering the seeds suffer terrible side-effects. Grow your own castor plant! Buy Giant Zanzibar Castor Seeds at Amazon.com! 6 Almonds Almonds are one of the most useful and wonderful of seeds (it is not a nut as many people would have you believe). It has a unique taste and its excellent suitability for use in cooking have made it one of the most popular ingredients in pastry kitchens for centuries. The most flavorsome almonds are bitter almonds (as opposed to “sweet” almonds). They have the strongest scent and are the most popular in many countries. But there is one problem: they are full of cyanide. Before consumption, bitter almonds must be processed to remove the poison. Despite this requirement, some countries make the sale of bitter almonds illegal (New Zealand regretfully is one of them). As an alternative, you can use the pip from an apricot stone which has a similar flavor and poison content. Heating destroys the poison. In fact, you may not know that it is now illegal in the USA to sell raw almonds – all almonds sold are now heat-treated to remove traces of poison and bacteria.

5 Cherries Cherries are a very popular fruit – used in cooking, liqueur production, or eaten raw. They are from the same family as plums, apricots, and peaches. All of the previously mentioned fruits contain highly poisonous compounds in their leaves and seeds. Almonds are also a member of this family but they are the only fruit which is harvested especially for its seeds. When the seeds of cherries are crushed, chewed, or even slightly injured, they produce prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide). Next time you are eating cherries, remember not to suck on or chew the pip. 4 Apples Like the previous two items, apple seeds also contain cyanide – but obviously in much smaller doses. Apple seeds are very often eaten accidentally but you would need to chew and consume a fairly high number to get sick. There are not enough seeds in one apple to kill, but it is absolutely possible to eat enough to die. I recommend avoiding apple eating competitions! Incidentally, if you want to eat an apple and find a worm in it (and hopefully not half a worm), you can drop it in a bowl of salt water which will kill the worm.

3 Rhubarb Rhubarb is a very underrated plant – it produces some of the nicest tasting puddings and is incredibly easy to grow at home. Rhubarb is something of a wonder plant – in addition to an unknown poison in its leaves, they also contain a corrosive acid. If you mix the leaves with water and soda, it becomes even more potent. The stems are edible (and incredibly tasty) and the roots have been used for over 5,000 years as a laxitive and poop-softener. 2 Tomatoes First off, a little interesting trivia: in the US, thanks to a US Supreme Court decision in 1893, tomatoes are vegetables. In the rest of the world they are considered to be fruit (or more accurately, a berry). The reason for this decision was a tax on vegetables but not fruit. You may also be interested to know that technically, a tomato is an ovary. The leaves and stems of the tomato plant contain a chemical called “Glycoalkaloid” which causes extreme nervousness and stomach upsets. Despite this, they can be used in cooking to enhance flavor, but they must be removed before eating.

Cooking in this way does not allow enough poison to seep out but can make a huge difference in taste. Finally, to enhance the flavor of tomatoes, sprinkle a little sugar on them. Now we just need to work out whether they are “toe-mah-toes” or “toe-may-toes”. 1 Potatoes Potatoes have appeared in our history books since their introduction to Europe in the 16th century. Unfortunately they appear largely due to crop failure and severe famine, but they will be forever the central vegetable of most western families daily diet. Potatoes (like tomatoes) contain poison in the stems and leaves – and even in the potato itself if left to turn green (the green is due to a high concentration of the glycoalkaloid poison). Potato poisoning is rare, but it does happen from time to time. Death normally comes after a period of weakness and confusion, followed by a coma. The majority of cases of death by potato in the last fifty years in the USA have been the result of eating green potatoes or drinking potato leaf tea. Apple Seeds and Cyanide : snopes.com Claim: Apple seeds contain a harmful cyanide compound. MIXTURE: TRUE: Apple seeds contain a cyanide compound.

FALSE: Ordinary consumption of seed-containing apples poses a harm to consumers. Origins: When we think of dangers lurking in our food, we tend to concentrate on the threats posed by chemical additives or by improper and careless handling. Yet the truth is we routinely come into contact with naturally occurring poisons in a number of the fruits we ingest. Apples are one such fruit: their pips (seeds) contain amygdalin, a cyanide and sugar compound that degrades into hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when metabolized. Cyanide itself is a poison that kills by denying blood the ability to carry oxygen and thereby causes its victims to die of asphyxiation. At least within the realm of murder mysteries, cyanide is the darling of poisoners because it acts quickly and irrevocably: once a fatal dose has been ingested, there is no effective antidote, and death takes place within minutes. It is sometimes described as having a bitter almond smell, but it does not always give off an odor, nor can everyone detect the scent. Cyanide is usually found joined with other chemicals in compounds: hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, sodium cyanide, and potassium cyanide.

In the death camps of World War II, the Nazis used hydrogen cyanide (Zyklon B) for their gas chambers. Luckily for those fond of their Granny Smiths, the body can detoxify cyanide in small doses, and the number of apple seeds it takes to pack a lethal punch is therefore so huge that even the most dedicated of apple eaters is extremely unlikely to ingest enough pips to cause any harm. Yet those who have heard apple seeds house a poison (usually remembered as arsenic, a quite different though equally deadly compound) cling to the frightening belief swallowing a small number of pips spells instant death. We've had folks fret to us that ingesting as few as three apple seeds would do someone in, a "fact" which, if true, would mean each and every one of us was flirting with the grim reaper every time we made a grab for a Delicious. Apple pips also have a tough protective coating which makes swallowing them even less of a risky proposition; unless the pips are pulverized or masticated, the amygdalin they house remains safely contained within.

Apple pips have hard, durable shells that allow them to pass intact through the digestive systems of animals, a quality which helps the apple to reproduce by distributing its seeds to new locations far from the originating trees. Were apple pips susceptible to the eroding effects of digestive juices, apple trees could not reproduce nearly as well as they do, as their seeds would not be so widely spread and a good many of the pips would be destroyed before germinating. Cherry, peach, and apricot pits also contain amygdalin; the latter two, at least, in potentially harmful amounts. Fortunately, peach and apricot pits are sufficiently large and hard that few people intentionally swallow or chew them. (The unapproved anti-cancer drug Laetrile is a semisynthetic derivative of amygdalin; a cheaper version of laetrile produced in Mexico came from crushed apricot pits.) A far greater natural source of cyanide is the cassava root, a vegetable favored by many in Africa. (Westerners know this plant best as tapioca.) Drying, soaking, and baking cassava roots renders its cyanide precursor, linamarin, harmless, but if that process is not carried out properly the cassava can remain poisonous.

Barbara "pudding on the blitz" Mikkelson Additional information: Patty Q: Is it safe to let my parrot eat fruit seeds? A: Whenever you question whether or not something is safe for your bird, it is always best to opt against using it until you know for certain. My philosophy is: when in doubt, don’t. Fruit is wonderful for your parrot but the seeds cause a lot of confusion because some are bad and others are not. Here is a list use can use a guideline: UNSAFE SEEDS: The seeds of apples and the pits of cherries, peaches, plums, pears, apricots and nectarines are all unsafe to give to your birds. They contain varying levels of a cyanide compound that can cause death. In humans, it would take many, many apple seeds to cause us to feel the effects of the poison, but, of course, parrots would succumb much more quickly to a smaller amount. If your bird gets a hold of a couple of apple seeds, it really isn’t a big deal, and you don’t need to rush him to the vet. Keep in mind that the larger the seed or pit, the higher the amount of toxins they contain.

Chewing them releases amounts of poison that might otherwise remain locked inside the hull and pass through the system without causing much harm. Unfortunately, birds chew everything, and if given the opportunity to chew open a pit, they will. SAFE SEEDS: The seeds contained in grapes, cantaloupe, cranberries, watermelon and pomegranates are all safe for birds to eat as well as the seeds of citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons. While they are not fruits, the seeds from squashes and pumpkins are also safe. Sometimes giving these seedy portions of fruits and vegetables will entice a bird to eat the flesh around them. The pomegranate is a most interesting fruit. The only thing edible about it is the seed portion. The seeds are surrounded by a foam-like textured flesh covered in a tough rind. This is a great foraging toy for a bird and I serve it as pictured above. DOG TRICKS, TIPS AND INSIGHTS, Foods that are Harmful or Fatal to Dogs. Common Foods That Are Harmful Or Even Fatal to Dogs Many common foods are actually harmful or even fatal to dogs. Some of these (listed below) will surprise you.

Others are things you would never give your dog purposefully, but now you will be more careful to not let them be in your dog's reach. And some just need to be limited to small amounts. Avocados (fruit, pit, and plant) are toxic to dogs. Avocados contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. They are high in fat and can trigger stomach upset, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. The effects on dogs and cats are not completely understood. GI signs are commonly seen and should be treated symptomatically. In addition, the animal should be monitored closely for other clinical signs related to the cardiovascular system. (This information comes from veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medicine Association, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.) Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia, weakness, and breathing difficulty. Even small amounts can cause cumulative damage over time. This includes onions or chives - raw, powdered, dehydrated, or cooked.

Large amounts of garlic cause the same problems as onions. Garlic contains only a small amount of the problematic substance that is in onions. Just as with people, moderation is the key. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill him. If the dog doesn't eat enough at one time to be fatal, he can be severely damaged by eating just a few grapes or raisins regularly. Tomatoes (plant and fruit) contain tomatine, an alkaloid related to solanine. As the fruit ripens, the tomatine is metabolized. Therefore, ripe tomatoes are less likely to be problematic for animals. Clinical signs of poisoning include lethargy, drooling, difficulty breathing, colic, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, widely-dilated pupils, paralysis, cardiac effects, central nervous system signs (e.g., ataxia, muscle weakness, tremors, seizures), resulting from cholinesterase inhibition, coma and death.

(This information comes from veterinarians, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.) (All parts of the plant except the tomato itself are poisonous to humans, although some people are sensitive to the ripe fruit also.) Tomatoes also contain atropine, which can cause dilated pupils, tremors, and heart arrhythmias. The highest concentration of atropine is found in the leaves and stems of tomato plants, with less in unripe (green) tomatoes, and even less in ripe (red) tomatoes. Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures and death. Caffeine (from coffee, coffee grounds, tea, or tea bags) stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems, and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations, and even death within hours. Diet products containing the sweetener Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Unless treatment is given quickly, the dog could die. Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. These symptoms are usually temporary. Walnuts. When dogs eat the seed hulls, they can get an upset stomach and diarrhea.

The real problem is the fungus or mold that attacks walnuts after they get wet (from rain or sprinklers), which produces toxins. If the fungus or mold is ingested by your dogs, they can become very ill and possibly die. Signs that should alert you to walnut poisoning are vomiting, trembling, drooling, lack of coordination, lethargy, loss of appetite, and jaundice indications such as yellowing eyes and gums. Severely affected dogs can produce blood-tinged vomit or stools. Dogs can take several days to exhibit serious signs of illness. Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker�s chocolate is the most dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. But any chocolate, in large enough amounts, can kill a dog. An ounce of chocolate can poison a 30-pound dog, and many dogs will happily consume more than this. The symptoms may not show up for several hours (and so might make you think all is well), with death following within twenty-four hours. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated, but it is still dangerous.

Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, pear pips, plums pits, and apricot pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous. While a few apple seeds may not cause a problem, the effects can accumulate over time if they are given to dogs regularly. Dogs should not be allowed to chew on a peach pit, cherry pit, apricot pit, or plum pit. Chewing can allow ingestion of cyanide. Chewing could also result in the pit being swallowed, causing continuous exposure to cyanide, or could cause the dog to choke. Too much salt can cause kidney problems. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may then drink too much water and develop bloat, which is fatal unless emergency treatment is given very quickly. Too much fat or fried foods can cause pancreatitis. Ham and bacon contain too much fat and too much salt, and can cause pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called bloat. This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing death. Raw liver or too much cooked liver (three servings a week) can lead to vitamin A toxicity.

This can cause deformed bones, excessive bone growth on the elbows and spine, weight loss, and anorexia. Check the label of your canned dog food to be sure that it does not contain liver if you are giving your dog liver also. Wild mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, or death. Raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin, which can deplete your dog of biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin is essential to your dog�s growth and coat health. The lack of it can cause hair loss, weakness, growth retardation, or skeleton deformity. Raw egg yolks contain enough biotin to prevent the deficiency, so this is not a problem with raw whole eggs. Raw egg yolks could contain salmonella, so you should get your eggs from a reliable source or cook the eggs. Grains should not be given in large amounts or make up a large part of a dog�s diet, but rice is generally safe in small amounts. Cooked bones can splinter and tear a dog�s internal organs.

Dogs can't digest most vegetables (carrots, green beans, lettuce, potatoes or yams) whole or in large pieces. Potato peels and green potatoes are dangerous. Dairy products are high in fat, which can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhea. A small amount of non-fat, plain yogurt is usually safe. Pennies made from the 1980s to today contain zinc, which can cause kidney failure and damage to red blood cells. A dog that consumes even one penny can become quite sick, or even die, if the penny is not removed. Note: According to the ASPCA, "Some dogs can eat [avocadoes] without having any adverse reactions. .... The Guatemalan variety, a common one found in stores, appears to be the most problematic. Other strains of avocado can have different degrees of toxic potential." "My dog ate ______ lots of times and didn't die, so ______ don't kill dogs." That logic is no better than "My dog runs in the street all the time and has never been hit by a car, so dogs never get hit by cars."

Question: Apple pips contain which toxic substance?
Answer: Cyanide